Person:Mary Irish (7)

Introducing Mary Irish of Philadelphia, PA_______________________

Nathaniel Irish, Jr's will mentions Mary Irish Smith, his daughter. There is a biographical sketch that states Mary Irish is married to Col. Henry Smith. On LDS website there is a family group record that has Mary b 26 Jan 1771 and d 8 Aug 1833, but there is no source listed. Mary and her brother Nathaniel Irish may have been baptised on 19 July 1769 at Gloria Dei, Old Swedes Church.

From notes of Morgan Henika's grandmother, Harriet A. Martin, cousin, Marie Ingersoll, 4 Aug 1935:

"In those days credit was granted to the tobacco and cotton planters and when the crops were harvested, Smith traveled by horse with saddlebags across the horse, to make collections. He stopped for the night at a small wayside inn. On one of his collection trips he was murdered and robbed. A negro woman who was employed at the inn put the body on a horse and led the horse to his house in Wheeling. The owners of the inn by whom he was murdered left the country, which indicated their guilt. His widow was an Irish from PA (Philadelphia). At this time the widow's brother, who was executor of the father's estate, visited her at Wheeling. He is said to have told her: "Sister I have a bit of writing for thee to sign." She signed the paper not knowing that she was signing all her interest in her father's estate which included property which later comprised part of downtown Philadelphia."